Small Wine Room/Cellar Cooler Options

[GregInIdaho]

For cooling our little closet storage / fermenting room down to 55 degrees F, I bought a cheapo A/C ($219) and temperature switch ($30) on Amazon. I used an 8 watt lightbulb wrapped in tin foil against the thermostat to fool it into thinking it was above 64 degrees. It's working well so far, for a super cheap cooling option.

 

[mainshipfred]

For cooling our little closet storage / fermenting room down to 55 degrees F, I bought a cheapo A/C ($219) and temperature switch ($30) on Amazon. I used an 8 watt lightbulb wrapped in tin foil against the thermostat to fool it into thinking it was above 64 degrees. It's working well so far, for a super cheap cooling option.

You're probably want to get a humidifier as well. The AC will probably dry the air more than you want.

 

[GregInIdaho]

You're probably want to get a humidifier as well. The AC will probably dry the air more than you want.

You are absolutely correct, especially here in dry Idaho. Without one, it was at around 30%.

 

[ratflinger]

What temp do you keep your house? In the past I had a wine fridge, now I don't and I have never tasted any difference. House is at 78* in the summer and closer to 72* in the other 1/2. From my understanding it's not so much the temp as keeping away from large temp swings.

 

[anthocyanin]

I used an 8 watt lightbulb wrapped in tin foil against the thermostat to fool it into thinking it was above 64 degrees.

Genius! We have a window air conditioner in the bedroom that refuses to go below 64 degrees and we like it COLD for sleeping. If I could get it to go to 57-59 it would be good for both long term wine storage and nice cool sleeping temp. I store my bulk aging and bottled wine up there and we also have a small wine fridge, but that's only big enough for bottles that will be opened semi-soon. Thinking of adding a temperature probe outlet to a spare chest freezer and using that for overflow storage of bottled wines. Could fit probably 6-8 cases in there easy.